County's oldest golf league now in its 35th year

Crooked Creakers play matches weekly at Crooked Creek

Members of the Crooked Creakers pose at Crooked Creek Golf Club recently. Pictured from left to right are Ray Bodie, Bob Schneider, Bill Brown, Bill Seibert, Dick Belanger, Gary Lowder, Gene Putanko and Spike Crumrine.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

By JOHN DOMANSKYTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.

What do you get when two former college professors, two World War 2 veterans, a urologist and two ministers walk into a clubhouse on a Wednesday morning?

This is not a joke and there is no punchline.

You get a group of about 50 men, from a wide variety of backgrounds, who make up the Crooked Creakers Golf League.

Billed as the oldest, organized golf league in Henderson County, the Creakers have been roaming the fairways of Crooked Creek Golf Club in Hendersonville for 35 years.

"Our league was formed in 1979 and has been in continuous existence since that time. We wish for our league to be a low-stress golfing environment, attractive to men of intermediate skills, who seek the fellowship of the game, rather than either intense competition or impressive prizes," said Creakers President Bill Brown.

Players must be 55 years of age or older and have a verifiable nine-hole handicap of 18 or lower. An acceptable handicap demonstration procedure is to play three, nine-hole rounds with a league member who will then attest to the candidate's satisfaction of the requirement.

Members of the league pay just $25 for annual dues to generally play five games on a rotating basis. Those five games are four-man best ball, two-man low net, team points, four-man low net and two-man better ball.

"A couple of times per year we play using only four clubs. Most of the guys enjoy that game and are surprised by how few clubs it takes to play at about the same level they achieve using their entire bag," said Brown.

When the Creakers are not trying to make putts to win a match, a number of members perform volunteer work for a variety of local charity/public service groups, including Meals-on-Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and Pardee Hospital.

Much like the historic Eisenhower Tree at Augusta National, which is now firewood and mulch after the recent winter ice storm, the Creakers have their own version.

"Lysiak's Corner is the crook of the elbow of the dogleg on the eighth hole, so named because of the uncanny ability of one of our golfers to place each of his tee shots, round-after-round, at the virtually identical and most ideal location from which to approach the green," said Brown.

Behind any successful, long-running league you will find a supportive golf staff.

"Thirty-five years is a long time for a golf league to exist at a single location. The convenience of Crooked Creek and the enormous cooperation we have always received from Tommy Laughter and Betty Penner has resulted in an overwhelming decision to stay just where we are," said Brown.

Members in the league are also eligible to play a casual round with other Creakers at noon, during the week.

"There are usually four to 12 players who arrive, ready to "slay the dragon" one more time," said Brown.

The Creakers will be holding an opening meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the rear hall of the First Church of the Nazarene, 111 N. Washington St. in Hendersonville.

For those who miss out on the donuts and coffee on March 5, they can call Bill Brown (698-3465), Gary Lowder (697-0998), Spike Crumrine (693-6843), Ray Bodie (650-9769) or Dick Belanger (891-5100) for more information.

<p>What do you get when two former college professors, two World War 2 veterans, a urologist and two ministers walk into a clubhouse on a Wednesday morning?</p><p>This is not a joke and there is no punchline.</p><p>You get a group of about 50 men, from a wide variety of backgrounds, who make up the Crooked Creakers Golf League.</p><p>Billed as the oldest, organized golf league in Henderson County, the Creakers have been roaming the fairways of Crooked Creek Golf Club in Hendersonville for 35 years.</p><p>"Our league was formed in 1979 and has been in continuous existence since that time. We wish for our league to be a low-stress golfing environment, attractive to men of intermediate skills, who seek the fellowship of the game, rather than either intense competition or impressive prizes," said Creakers President Bill Brown.</p><p>Players must be 55 years of age or older and have a verifiable nine-hole handicap of 18 or lower. An acceptable handicap demonstration procedure is to play three, nine-hole rounds with a league member who will then attest to the candidate's satisfaction of the requirement.</p><p>Members of the league pay just $25 for annual dues to generally play five games on a rotating basis. Those five games are four-man best ball, two-man low net, team points, four-man low net and two-man better ball.</p><p>"A couple of times per year we play using only four clubs. Most of the guys enjoy that game and are surprised by how few clubs it takes to play at about the same level they achieve using their entire bag," said Brown.</p><p>When the Creakers are not trying to make putts to win a match, a number of members perform volunteer work for a variety of local charity/public service groups, including Meals-on-Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and Pardee Hospital.</p><p>Much like the historic Eisenhower Tree at Augusta National, which is now firewood and mulch after the recent winter ice storm, the Creakers have their own version.</p><p>"Lysiak's Corner is the crook of the elbow of the dogleg on the eighth hole, so named because of the uncanny ability of one of our golfers to place each of his tee shots, round-after-round, at the virtually identical and most ideal location from which to approach the green," said Brown.</p><p>Behind any successful, long-running league you will find a supportive golf staff.</p><p>"Thirty-five years is a long time for a golf league to exist at a single location. The convenience of Crooked Creek and the enormous cooperation we have always received from Tommy Laughter and Betty Penner has resulted in an overwhelming decision to stay just where we are," said Brown.</p><p>Members in the league are also eligible to play a casual round with other Creakers at noon, during the week.</p><p>"There are usually four to 12 players who arrive, ready to "slay the dragon" one more time," said Brown.</p><p>The Creakers will be holding an opening meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the rear hall of the First Church of the Nazarene, 111 N. Washington St. in Hendersonville.</p><p>For those who miss out on the donuts and coffee on March 5, they can call Bill Brown (698-3465), Gary Lowder (697-0998), Spike Crumrine (693-6843), Ray Bodie (650-9769) or Dick Belanger (891-5100) for more information.</p>